Mine car



ly 29,1941. w. E. Lu-NGE'R Em 2,250 5 0 MINE CAR Filed July 6; 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /4 li': J 2 2 3 36' G as /a* 35 l INVENTOR 2 an 3 I, h/z'lhzr E. Lzmyer Herman /7. Pancake ATTORNEY w. E. LUNG-ER ETAL July 29, 1941.

MINE CAR Filed July 6, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 aw l fiu fl l u .wHHn 1/ O INVENTOR r E Lunyer Pancake ATTORNEY H 447% H erma 5 Patented July 29, 1941 UNITED STATES s'r ore-ICE ington, W. Va., asslgnors to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 6,1937, Serial No. 152,186

8 Claims.

This invention relates to mine cars in general and in particular to mine cars supported by a plurality of stub axles.

Mine cars of the stub axle type have been manufactured in the past with a plurality of spaced side sills to which the journal boxes have been attached while in the erection shop and consequently a large number of the axles would not be in their true position at right angles to the sills which would cause excessive wear on the wheel flanges during service. Other stub axle mine cars have been constructed in which unitary cast wheel hoods and journal box units were applied to the car, but with this construction a large number of axles were also found to be out of proper position, since in casting the unit it was practically impossible to maintain the core in its proper position. These cast units were also extremely expensive both in first cost and in replacements, since a breakage of any part of the unit necessitated replacement of the entire unit. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a fabricated wheel hood, sill and journal box unit which may be readily repaired in case of damage to any part.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fabricated wheel hood, sill and journal box unit which may be assembled upon a bench, thus insuring perfect axle alignment after application to the car.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved journal box which is formed in part by a. wheel hood and sill assembly.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view taken through one of the wheel units and showing approximately one-third of the car;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; .7 1

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the hood and side arrangement shown in'Fig. 1 with parts thereof broken away to more clearly disclose the constructio Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. l but showing a modification of the wheel hood and sill assembly;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 'l is a plan View of a construction very similar to that shown in Fig. l but in which twin wheel hoods are used, and g V Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of journal box which may be substituted for the journal boxes shown on the preceding figures.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the invention has been applied to a car of conventional design having a low level floor and a particular side structure designed for rotary dump operation. As shown the car is preferably formed with a one-piece floor sheet 2 which is supported by full length center sills 4 and a Z-shaped sill member 6. which extends from end to end of the car and forms the lower chord of the girder side. This lower chord has attached thereto the lower edge of a sheet metal side wall 8 having its upper portion offset inwardly as at 9 and upwardly as at It to'termimate in a rolled portion 1 l and to this offset is attached an angle member l2, thus forming a hollow substantially triangular top chord. The vertical web of the lower'chord is spaced inwardly from the side wall, thus providing a pocket in which suitable car stops S may be secured. In order to brace the side wall structure and prevent any bulging thereof a pressed gusset I4 is provided which may be riveted, welded or otherwise secured to the side wall and floor portion as well as to the wheel hood units later to be described. The car is supported as is customary upon four flanged wheels W and stub axles R located within the wheel hoods and journal boxes now to be described.

. Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 inclusivefit will be seen that this wheel hood, sill and journal box unit may be readily assembled upon a bench and applied to the car. In this form the Wheel hood i6 is of plate metal pressed to generally inverted pan shape with the end flanges l8 extending substantially vertical and merging withinner and outer vertically extending side flanges l9 andEii respectively. After the hood is pressed in this form the journal boxes will be attached.

thereto in their correct position and this maybe readily done at a benchor' other point prior to assembly of the car; Each journal box consists of an inverted ,U-shaped member having downwardly directed side flanges 22 with holes '23 punched therein for receptionof an axle retaining bolt and this U-shaped member is securely welded as at 2d to a plate 25 that has its central portion removed in order to straddle the U-.

shaped member. In order to brace the legs orflanges of the U-member triangular shaped'gus 7 set plates 28 are provided and securely welded tion and each unit seal to the U-member and plate 25. The journal boxes after being fabricated will be secured to the flanges l9 and 26 by means of tack welds 29 (Fig. 2) and these tack welds will be made only after the journal boxes have been correctly aligned upon a dummy axle, thus insuring the right angular relation of the axle and inner side wall of the hood unit. The completed hood and journal box unit may now be attached to a supporting member 30 comprising a commercial angle bent to engage the ends and one side of the hood unit. This angle is of greater strength and, as shown in the drawings, is of greater thickness than the material of the wheel hood and preferably has a I1g leg 32 disposed vertically and a shorter leg 33 disposed substantially horizontal and which will be secured to the car floor after assembly in the car; the angle 38 constituting a strength and load carrying member, as will be obvious. This supporting member will be securely attached to the hood by suitable means such as rivets 34, which securely join the outer journal box, hood and supporting member together. The hood and supporting member will also be joined by means of rivets 35 which extend through both members as well as through short vertical connection angles 36. It can be seen that the supporting member constitutes in effect, a part of the wheel hood unit and pro- Vides an exceptionally strong construction connected with the sill 4 and which said construction provides a reinforcing element for the car floor.

The completed wheel hood, journal box and supporting member may now be applied to the car by the driving of floor securing rivets 31 and center sill securing rivets 38 and 39, the former of which connect the angles to the vertical web of the center sill, while the latter rigidly unite-the inner journal box, wheel hood and web of the center sill. The unit is thus securely and rigidly attached to the car sill and floor with the journal boxes in perfect alignment and properly located so that the axle will be held at right angles to the car center sill. With the units attached to the car the gusset plates previously referred to may be attached and welded in posiwelded as at 40 to the center sills 4. It Will thus be seen that the wheel h0od,supporting member and journal boxes may be completely assembled upon a bench and with the journal boxes in correct alignment, after which the completed unit may be attached to the car. 'It will also be obvious that in case repair isnecessary to the wheel hood or journal boxes &

it will only be necessary to remove the hood and journal box unit from the car, leaving the supporting member in position upon the car, after which a new hood and journal box unit may be inserted. It will be apparent that this latter manner of assembly may also be used in case of new car construction instead of that as previously described.

In the form shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive the wheel hood 42 is of conventional form having a peripheral outwardly directed flange 44 by means of which it may be attached as by rivets 45' to an inwardly directed upper flange 45 of a Z-bar, supporting member. This member like that previously described is bent in substantially U-form with the web 48 extending vertically and the lower flange 49 extending substantially horizontal for attachment to the car floor. The outer journal box is formed by butt welding the edges of a substantially U-shaped member thereto and the legs of this U-member will be suitably braced by gusset plates 5| (Figs. 4 and 6). The inner journal box will be formed in exactly the same manner by welding U-shaped member 52 and gussets 53 to an angle member 54 to form the inner journal box unit which may be shifted slightly relative to the wheel hood in order that the journal boxes will be brought into perfect alignment, after which the hood securing rivets will be driven. All of this Work and alignment of the journal boxes may be accomplished upon the bench, after which the unit will be applied to the car by driving of floor rivets 55 and center sill rivets 58 and 59, the former connecting the inner journal box unit to the sill, while the latter connect short angles 60 which are fastened to the web of the supporting member.

It is apparent that with this form the wheel hood may be readily replaced in case of injury merely by removal of rivets 45 and attachment of a new hood. It is also obvious that with this form a shallow wheel hood may be used which is necessary with certain types of metal which may notbe drawn to the extent necessary to form a hood of the type described in connection with Figures 1 to 3.

The form shown in Figure 7 is substantially identical with that described in connection with Figure 1 and wherever possible the same reference numerals have been applied. In this form the supporting member 62 is of bulb angle cross section and bent so as to accommodate two wheel hood and journal box units of the type described in connection with Figure 1. The journal boxes will be attached to the wheel hoods and to the outer sill in exactly the same manner as previously described, while the adjacent end flanges of the hood units will be attached to an intermediate floor portion 64 by angles 53, thus forming a twin wheel hood sill and journal box assembly. This assembly will be attached to the floor and center sills in exactly the same manner as was the unit described in connection with Figures 1 to 3.

In Figure 8 is disclosed a cast journal box unit which may be' substituted if desired for the fabricated journal boxes previously described and particularly the inner journal box unit of Figures 4 to 6. In this form the U-shaped member M, gussets l2 and angle shaped backing member 14 are cast in one piece. The vertical web of the angle backing member will be drilled as at 15 to permit attachment of the unit to the hood and outer sill arrangements previously described. It is obvious that this unit may be applied to these arrangements upon the bench, thus permitting accurate alignment of the bearing portions and insuring the correct location of the axle after attachment of the arrangements upon the car.

While the invention has been described more or less in detail, it is obvious that various modifications, rearrangements of parts and changes in assembly may be made and all such modifications, rearrangements of parts and changes in assembly are contemplated as fall within the scope of the following claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a mine car, a sill, a side wall spaced outwardly from the sill, a floor extending between the sill and side wall and formed with a wheel receiving opening, a plate metal wheel hood member over said opening provided with side and end attaching flanges, one of said side flanges lapping and being secured to said sill, and means disposed entirely above said floor for securing the remaining flanges of the wheel hood to the floor, said means comprising a rigid element conforming to the end flanges and the other side flange of the wheel hood member with its end portions connected to said sill and provided with an attaching portion resting upon and secured to the floor and another portion lapping and secured to said end flanges and said other side flange.

2 In a mine car, an inner sill, an outer sill, a side wall having its lower end portion connected to the outer sill, a floor connecting the inner and outer sills and formed with wheel receiving openings, a wheel hood member over said opening and formed with downwardly projecting side and end flanges, one of said side flanges lapping the inner sill and being secured thereto, and means for securing the end flanges and the other side flange to the floor comprising a rigid element shaped to conform to the end flanges and the said other side flange of the wheel hood with its end portions connected to said inner sill, said rigid element being generally U-shaped in plan and of angular formation with a portion thereof resting upon and secured to the floor to constitute means for retaining the floor against deformation.

3. In a mine car, a side wall, a sill, a floor connected to the sill and side wall and provided with a wheel receiving opening, a wheel hood arranged over the opening and secured to the sill, and means for connecting the wheel hood to the floor comprising a member of angular formation spaced fromsaid side wall and being secured to the floor and to said wheel hood intermediate the sill and the side wall, said member being substantially U-shaped in plan and being secured to the sill and said member possessing greater strength than the material of the wheel hood and the floor whereby to provide a reinforcement for said floor and hood.

4. In a mine car, spaced inner and outer sills, a floor connecting said sills and provided with a wheel receiving opening, a pressed metal wheel hood disposed over the opening and having a portion thereof secured to the inner sill, and means for connecting the wheel hood to the floor comprising a floor bracing member of angular formation spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said means being substantially U-shaped in plan and secured to the floor and the inner sill at the wheel opening and independent of said outer sill and having a portion lapped by the wheel hood and secured thereto.

5. In a mine car, an inner sill, a Z-shaped outer sill with its web disposed vertically and its upper and lower flanges arranged substantially horizontally, the upper flange projecting laterally outward relative to the inner sill, a side wall having an inturned flange at its lower edge portion resting upon and secured to the upper flange of the outer sill, a floor connecting the inner and outer sills and formed with a wheel receiving opening, a wheel hood disposed over the opening and having one portion thereof secured to the inner sill, an angular shaped rigid element secured to the wheel hood and having a flange resting upon and secured to the floor to rein-' force the latter, said rigid element being substantially U-shaped in plan to conform with the wheel hood and having its end portions secured to the inner sill, and a gusset extending between the side wall and rigid element and connected thereto and to the lower flange of the Z-shaped outer sill.

6. In a mine car, inner sills, side walls, a floor extending from side wall to side wall and connected to the sills, said floor being provided with wheel openings, wheel hoods arranged over the openings and each having a portion secured to the adjacent sill, and means for strengthening the car floor adjacent the wheel openings comprising supporting members substantially U- shaped in plan having their end portions secured to the inner sills'and the web portions located in spaced relationship to said side walls, said supporting members being of angular formation in section and having certain portions thereof secured tothe floor and other portions lapping and secured to the wheel hoods, said other portions extending upwardly substantially to the height of the inner sills.

'7. In a mine car, inner and outer sills, side walls, a floor extending from side wall to side wall and connected to the sills, said floor being provided with wheel openings between the adjacent inner and outer sills, wheel hoods arranged over the openings and each having a portion secured to the adjacent inner sill, means for strengthening the car floor adjacent the wheel openings comprising supporting members located wholly above the floor, said supporting members being substantially U-shaped in plan and having their end portions secured to the inner sills and their web portions located in spaced relationship to said side walls and outer sills, said supporting members being of angular formation in section and having certain portions thereof secured to the floor and other portions lapping and secured to the wheel hoods, said other portions extending upwardly substantially to the height of the inner sills, and rigid members arranged transversely of the car and extending between and connected to the side walls, outer sills, and supporting members.

8. In a mine car, an inner sill, a side wall, an outer sill to which the side wall is secured, a floor connecting the sills and formed with a wheel receiving opening, a pressed metal wheel hood disposed over the opening and having a portion thereof lapping and secured to the inner silL-an angle member disposed wholly above and secured to the floor adjacent the wheel hood, said member having an upright portion extending substantially to the height of said inner sill and being secured to the wheel hood with its end portions secured to said inner sill, and a gusset extending between and connected to the outer sill, side wall, and said angle member.

WILBUR E. LUNGER. HERMAN H. PANCAKE. 

